RATIONAL THEORY AND NEW INSTITUTIONALISM : IT’S IMPLICATION ON DECISIONS MAKING PROCESS

Central to the existence of any policy-making process must be the role of ideas and arguments. Rational Choice Theory and New Institutionalism both attempt to assess, appraise, and even distinguish between types of decision-making occurring within differing settings, circumstances, situations and among individuals, groups or institutional frameworks as the case may be. Interestingly though paradoxically, ideas and arguments are quite critical to policy-making from the point of view of both New Institutionalism and Rational Choice Theory, despite attempts in certain parts or variations of both Theories, to dismantle or downplay the role of both ideas and arguments, respectively, in selecting policy methods.